Texas House Budget Defunds STAAR Test, But That Could Be A Problem

AUSTIN (January 15, 2013)—The Texas House budget proposal for 2014-15 provides no funds for the standardized STAAR test, although a preliminary Senate budget includes about $94 million annually for the exam.

If lawmakers were to pull funding for standardized testing, The Texas Education Agency says the state could violate federal rules.

Agency spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said Tuesday that the Texas House budget proposal to defund the exam regimen is the first she could recall.

Standardized testing has taken place in Texas classrooms since 1980.

Ratcliffe said No Child Left Behind laws require elementary, middle and high school testing.

Proposals to defund STAAR could spark larger debate on the state's over-reliance on standardized testing.

The final state budget will look very different from what has been proposed.

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